By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense tennis standout Alexandra Eala bowed out in the opening round of the Qatar Open after a straight-sets defeat to Tereza Valentová, 7-6 (8), 6-1, at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Monday, February 9.

Eala pushed Valentová to the limit in a tightly contested first set that went to a tiebreak, where the Czech player edged the Filipina, 8-6, to seize the early momentum.

Valentová then took control in the second set, breaking Eala multiple times to close out the match in just over an hour.

Match statistics showed Valentová holding the advantage on serve, firing four aces and winning 75 percent of her first-serve points.

Eala, who did not register an ace in the match, managed a 66 percent first-serve rate but won only 56 percent of those points.

Valentová also converted four of seven break-point opportunities, compared to Eala’s two of five, and finished with a 70-54 edge in total points won.

The Czech player claimed 13 games overall to Eala’s seven and won eight service games to seal her passage to the next round.

The loss halted Eala’s campaign in Doha as the 20-year-old continues her early-season run on the WTA Tour./ASC, WDJ